University of Texas researchers say they've developed a new tool that could help spot problems on power lines before they lead to outages.

Why it matters: As Texas adds data centers and more people, utilities are looking for better ways to monitor an aging electric grid in real time.

Driving the news: Engineers at UT have spent the past several years developing a "smart sensor" that clips directly onto power lines.

• The device continuously monitors electrical activity and can detect subtle changes that conventional equipment often misses, like when a tree touches a power line.
• That could allow utility crews to identify hazardous vegetation before it causes an outage or sparks a wildfire, instead of relying primarily on scheduled tree trimming every several years.

By the numbers: During a field test near Seguin, the sensors detected 34 issues on lines in one month — compared with three identified by conventional monitoring equipment, according to the researchers.

How it works: UT project manager Shannon Strank says the sensors give utilities "improved situational awareness" by providing real-time information about conditions instead of requiring operators to analyze data hours later.

• "You could literally pull up a dashboard and get grid performance data on the spot versus filtering through messy systems that tend to have a lag," Strank tells Axios.

The big picture: The Department of Energy sponsored the project to better monitor power quality.

• "We have quite a bit of renewables on the grid here in Texas, so that was the motivation," Strank says.
• Plus, the 2021 deadly winter storm in Texas, followed by destructive wildfires and rapid AI growth, underscored the need for faster, more detailed grid monitoring, according to Strank.

Yes, but: Discovering more infrastructure threats could require utilities to shell out more money addressing them.

• Austin Energy budgeted $32 million for vegetation management and wildfire mitigation in the 2026 fiscal year — and that's for a schedule of trimming Austin trees once every seven years.

What's next: The team will redeploy more sensors for testing this fall, in partnership with Sandia National Labs.

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Speaking of the grid, a series of dangerous heat waves this summer — including one that has left Texas and 16 other states under an emergency federal order — are putting the electric grid under an intense real-world stress test.

Why it matters: Successive summer heat waves are forcing utilities to rethink how they prepare the grid for longer and more frequent periods of extreme stress — and the AI-driven electricity boom.

State of play: Heat waves create a double challenge by increasing electricity demand for air-conditioning while reducing the efficiency of some power plants.

Zoom in: Texas has become one of the nation's biggest proving grounds for grid modernization since the deadly 2021 winter storm exposed major weaknesses.

• The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), which operates most of the state's grid, has since handled record seasonal demand with the help of rapid battery expansion, mandatory weatherization, improved forecasting and expanded demand response.

Yes, but: ERCOT told state lawmakers that statewide electric demand will reach about 175,000 megawatts by 2032 — almost double the record number that was set this month.

Between the lines: "Texas has been enormously proactive" in building transmission and adding solar, wind and batteries, retired UC Berkeley electrical engineering professor Sascha von Meier tells Axios.

• But rapid growth in electricity demand from AI data centers is creating a new challenge, she says.

Zoom out: A growing number of U.S. utilities are linking home batteries, solar panels and EV chargers through software to virtual power plants that can supply electricity or reduce demand during periods of grid stress.

⚡️ Gov. Greg Abbott is calling for legislation to deregulate Austin and San Antonio's municipally-owned electric utilities. Abbott says the move would bring down rates, while city officials say it will cost customers more. (Austin American-Statesman)

📊 Austin ISD outperformed most state averages on fifth and eighth grade STAAR science exams, according to newly released results. (Community Impact)

🏠 A housing startup is planning a major expansion with a new headquarters lease and manufacturing plant in Southeast Austin. (Austin Business Journal 🔒)

🍗 Franklin Barbecue will close Monday through Aug. 21 to give employees a summer break. (KXAN)

Here's what's blipping on our weekend radar.

Friday

🏟️ Cheer the Austin Sol, a professional ultimate frisbee squad, as they face the Carolina Flyers in the Ultimate Frisbee Association's South Division Championship. 7pm at Parmer Field, $20. Kids under 12 are free.

Saturday

⚖️ Check out Henry Fonda in "12 Angry Men," the classic jury room drama, at State Theatre. 3:30pm, $15. (In the last turn in his misbegotten drama career, Asher played one of the jurors in a college production.)

• Also showing at State Theatre, the very different (and arguably better) movie "Bring It On." 7pm, $15.

Sunday

🌂 Head to Zilker Hillside Theater for "Singin' in the Rain." 8:15pm, free.

• The show will also run Thursday through Sunday next weekend.